Ethnic Groups: · Has more than 250 ethnic groups o Hausa and Fulani: 29% o Yoruba: 21% o Igbo (Ibo): 18% o Ijaw: 10% o Kanuri: 4% o Ibibio: 3.5% o Tiv: 2.5% Religions: · Muslim: 50% · Christian: 40% · Indigenous beliefs: 10% English is the official language
History
500 B.C. - 200 A.D.: Nok culture flourishes. The Nok create clay figurines of human heads and animals, which are prized today. 1472: Portuguese settlers become the first Europeans to live in Nigeria. Other Europeans follow. 1800s: The Muslim Fulani empire rules the region. 1903: Britain takes control of Nigeria, creating a system of indirect rule through local kings and chiefs. 1914: Britain unites the northern and southern regions, forming the Colony of Nigeria. 1958: Nigerian Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart is published. 1960: Nigeria gains independence from Britain and joins the United Nations. A new constitution and government are adopted. 1966: The military takes control of the government. 1967-1970: The eastern region of Nigeria secedes and proclaims itself the Republic of Biafra. This leads to a civil war that kills about 1 million people. 1970s: An oil boom occurs. A great surge in world oil prices boosts Nigeria's economy. 1979: Nigeria briefly returns to civilian government rule. The military takes over again in 1983. 1986: Wole Soyinka is the first African to be honored with the Nobel Prize for literature. 1996: Nigeria wins the gold medal in soccer in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. 1999: Military rule ends. Nigerians vote in free presidential elections. 2003: Olusegun Obasanjo is elected president, marking the first civilian transfer of power in Nigeria's history. Still, election observers express concern over irregularities in voting.
Culture
Ethnic Groups:
· Has more than 250 ethnic groups
o Hausa and Fulani: 29%
o Yoruba: 21%
o Igbo (Ibo): 18%
o Ijaw: 10%
o Kanuri: 4%
o Ibibio: 3.5%
o Tiv: 2.5%
Religions:
· Muslim: 50%
· Christian: 40%
· Indigenous beliefs: 10%
English is the official language
History
500 B.C. - 200 A.D.:
Nok culture flourishes. The Nok create clay figurines of human heads and animals, which are prized today.
1472:
Portuguese settlers become the first Europeans to live in Nigeria. Other Europeans follow.
1800s:
The Muslim Fulani empire rules the region.
1903:
Britain takes control of Nigeria, creating a system of indirect rule through local kings and chiefs.
1914:
Britain unites the northern and southern regions, forming the Colony of Nigeria.
1958:
Nigerian Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart is published.
1960:
Nigeria gains independence from Britain and joins the United Nations. A new constitution and government are adopted.
1966:
The military takes control of the government.
1967-1970:
The eastern region of Nigeria secedes and proclaims itself the Republic of Biafra. This leads to a civil war that kills about 1 million people.
1970s:
An oil boom occurs. A great surge in world oil prices boosts Nigeria's economy.
1979:
Nigeria briefly returns to civilian government rule. The military takes over again in 1983.
1986:
Wole Soyinka is the first African to be honored with the Nobel Prize for literature.
1996:
Nigeria wins the gold medal in soccer in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia.
1999:
Military rule ends. Nigerians vote in free presidential elections.
2003:
Olusegun Obasanjo is elected president, marking the first civilian transfer of power in Nigeria's history. Still, election observers express concern over irregularities in voting.
good website for 21st century events with article links to each event
http://www.mapreport.com/countries/nigeria.html